The kicker? We're basically a 4 man team.

[rocky_warrior]

I thought Buzz could have gone with the 1-3-1 more.

I thought a couple of the calls on Burke were bogus.

I thought we should have driven the ball more.

But the kicker is, we only really have 4 players on our team.  They're damn good, but it's too much to ask them to play a good athletic team for 40 minutes and win.  Not a knock on Burke, he plays hard, and is out of position, but isn't a threat to score.  Hazel has time to learn, but at this point isn't playing very good ball.  I don't know if it's Buzz's offense, but Acker and Cubillan have regressed (was Cube in a boot tonight?).  Butler may be a fine player, but he didn't show it tonight.  I'm not expecting much out of Otule this year.  Fulce may be the wildcard, but is far behind at this point.

We need more PLAYERS!  OY.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

We need more PLAYERS!  OY.

Agreed.

I don't want this to turn into a Trevor M. thread, but I couldn't help but wonder how much damage he could have done tonight.

He's gone, so I'm not crying over it, just sayin' that it's really too bad he didn't want to play at MU. 

[CTWarrior]

But the kicker is, we only really have 4 players on our team.  They're damn good, but it's too much to ask them to play a good athletic team for 40 minutes and win.

+1

Acker is the only other player of the current 9 active scholarship players that should get meaningful minutes for a top 40 type team.  I think Butler and Hazel could grow into solid 5-10 mpg role players, but they aren't there yet, nor is Burke, who is running out of time to get there.  I like Cubillan if healthy, but I don't think he is.

[CTWarrior]

I don't want this to turn into a Trevor M. thread, but I couldn't help but wonder how much damage he could have done tonight.

-1

I'll believe Trevor is a good player when I see some evidence of it.  I saw no evidence of it last year, though he was playing on one leg so it wasn't very telling.

[chapman]

As I said after Dayton, we cannot continue to play 4 on 12.  If that means we slow it down and tighten the offense up at times to find Acker, Cubillan, and Butler some opportunities then that might have to be done.  To be successful, it should come as no surprise to see at least one bench player scoring in double figures in any given game, yet we have had a 10 point performance twice all year.  We have no depth, but we have to use what we have, not have them take up space and cheer on the Big Four while they're in the game.

[spartan3186]

Burke+Bench= 6 Points.... Chism= 26 points

How does Chism come off the bench??

[MU B2002]

I thought Butler provided some quality minutes with Jerel in foul trouble, but he never even pretends to look for a shot and it seemed like UT knew it.

[Norm]

I thought Butler provided some quality minutes with Jerel in foul trouble, but he never even pretends to look for a shot and it seemed like UT knew it.

What did you see Butler do to qualify as "quality time?" To me he looked very tentative on offense and at the free throw line. He seemed to rotate late to Tabb when he nailed the 3 to put them back up by 5 with under 2 minutes to go. I just didn't see a whole lot out of him, but I'd be interested in hearing from others what they thought he did right.

[MU B2002]

Good points. As I hit post I was asking myself the same question.  I guess warm body does not equal quality time.

Although I thought he did have a nice steal near half court and perfect pass to Matthews on the break, although we missed the bunny. 

[bma725]

What did you see Butler do to qualify as "quality time?" To me he looked very tentative on offense and at the free throw line. He seemed to rotate late to Tabb when he nailed the 3 to put them back up by 5 with under 2 minutes to go. I just didn't see a whole lot out of him, but I'd be interested in hearing from others what they thought he did right.

He had the steal and pass to Matthews for the breakaway that Wes missed.  He had a drive into the paint to draw the defender towards him then a kick to McNeal for an open 3 pointer.  He a nice drive when everyone else was just standing around and he drew contact but missed the free throw.

His defense was lacking for sure, but he just doesn't have much lateral quickness so that's to be expected.

[Mods, Delete me please. 8/26/2020]

Butler is useless.  Cubillan is useless.  Acker is a huge liability on defense.  Maybe this changes when Otule and Fulce return, but right now you have to think of them more as "extra bodies" because of their lack of experience.  If they are able to contribute this season it will probably be further down the road and might be too late.   Bottom line, we are 4-deep.  

[NavinRJohnson]

The injuries have definitely been a killer, and that is likely to continue. Gonna be an awfully long year in the BE if we have to basically play 6 guys. It loosk as if we could be in for a BE season very similar to the one the Packers are winding up...some very talented players to keep it close, but in the end the incompleteness of the team and lack of overall depth will result in more losses than wins. Now, guys coming back from injury could change that, and they certainly have the potential to finish strong. We are definitley going to need a couple additional guys to contribute.

[Ahoya06]

Butler is useless.

While Jimmy's defense needs to get better, I think he played some pretty good minutes last night, especially when we needed him. I guess I'd call us a 4.5 player team then...

[ecompt]

If Otule and Fulce can do anything at all, we'll have some returning talent next year. If not, we may be starting four newcomers. Butler looks out of his league, Acker hustles his butt off but is simply too small to play at this level, and God is still punishing Cubillan (rightfully so) for that embarrassing worm dance of a few years ago. God help us if Matthews or McNeal get hurt.

[rocky_warrior]

He had a drive into the paint to draw the defender towards him then a kick to McNeal for an open 3 pointer. 

That was a great play.  I think butler has potential, but he's not playing as well as we need him to play - yet.  I also think by his Senior year (perhaps even Junior), he'll be one of our better players.

[Pardner]

JB also had 5 boards.  Last two games he has been better with his feet on D, although he has a ways to go.  I thought he would have a break-out game going in due to his size vs. UT and because he plays the 1 in the 1-3-1 zone.  I figured he was a good match-up player for us.  You can see the offensive skills in him, but he had no shot attempts in 21 minutes--the whole bench only had two FGA all night (both rushes by Mo).  Buzz needs him to play a 4 right now, and it isn't where he is comfortable.  Work in progress.

Now, if he hit his season avg. on FT's last night, we have a tie game with 2:20 to go.  Got to give the kid a break as it was his first real road game in the opponents' den.  Our bench has got to shoot, though.

[Novakisgod20]

Agreed. This is without a doubt a four man roster. Some good thoughts on that on MUTV's site.

http://mutv-sports.blogspot.com/

[nyg]

Burke and Hazel did not even take a shot for the entire game  Not one field goal attempt.  Not one offensive rebound and then back up for a shot. At least he made it 32 minutes until foul number five. Chism had more points in one game than Burke has had the entire season.

I can't even fathom how the matchup will be with UCONN, now that Stanley Robinson just returned. Good grief. 

[MUfan12]

Jeez- with fans like some on this board, who needs enemies?

Butler had a nice game last night. 5 rebounds, a couple offensive rebounds. Yeah, he missed some FT's. So did everyone else. Yes, he got beat a couple of times defensively. So did everyone else. To call him useless, playing his 10th D1 game, and playing out of position is absurdly harsh.

This team has 4 double digit scorers per night, basically. We don't need anyone off the bench to score a ton. Hit a shot here and there, rebound, defend, basically try to keep it even until the starters get back out.

Not many basketball teams make extended runs with bench players. Gotta check the expectations a bit.

[Mods, Delete me please. 8/26/2020]

This team has 4 double digit scorers per night, basically. We don't need anyone off the bench to score a ton.
Not many basketball teams make extended runs with bench players. Gotta check the expectations a bit.

Yeah 3 bench points will be just fine most nights.   

[MUfan12]

Where did I say that 3 points would cut it? Yes, they're underperforming offensively. But my whole point is that scoring is only part of the issue. I'm more concerned about rebounding and how they defend.

[slingkong]

I think Butler did as much as he could.  He's still adjusting to the difference in speed and skill between JUCO and actual DI play.  He played better than McNeal, at least.  The subject of this thread needs to read that, for tonight at least, we were basically a  three-man team.

[THEGYMBAR]

Rocky said it best...we have four BE quality players. They are very good players but the drop off is almost scary. Don't everyone get pissed at me but I really, really, really think Buzz is in over his head. As good of a recruiting class as we have on paper do we really believe they will be better than the big 4 this year?

Watching everyone other than the big 4 is not a pretty sight. I thought at the time and still think Butler was wasted scholly. Not totally panicking about the future but getting there. All the more reason why need Jamil Wilson. We need studs BADLY.

[MUfan12]

So a consensus top 15 class, and he's in over his head? Really? All because Jamil Wilson isn't coming here you're close to panicking?

Will they be as good as the big 3? Not right away. But the team will be more balanced, more athletic, and overall, more talented.

We will have 9 guys 6-6 and over next year. Tell me that won't help in the Big East.


P.S.- Maymon will be twice the player Wilson will be. One is a competitor, one is a headcase.

[muwarrior87]

P.S.- Maymon will be twice the player Wilson will be. One is a competitor, one is a headcase.

+1. Maymon thinks his team can win by 30 every night and almost sounds frustrated when they don't! The kid has all the skill to be very good and has the focus to do so.